Palladino: Don't Confuse JPP's Arrival With Readiness

By Ernie Palladino
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The last time the Giants traveled down to AT&T Stadium, Jason Pierre-Paul had all 10 fingers.

He sacked Tony Romo twice in that 31-21 loss, a setback that gave an earnest push to a 6-10 ballclub that began its descent in a 27-0 loss to the Eagles the previous week.

He may not have played like a total monster that day, but at least he was present to give that defense a fighting chance against Romo, Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray.

Of course, the sheer weight of the Dallas offense overwhelmed Pierre-Paul and his teammates in the end. Murray rushed for 128 yards, Bryant caught for 151 and the ultimate winning touchdown, and the Giants continued what would become a seven-game losing streak that sunk their season.

Things are different this time around, especially for Pierre-Paul. That intimate July 4 encounter with a firecracker cost the Giants' top pass-rush threat a right index finger and sent him underground for more than two months before he resurfaced Monday at the Giants' Quest Diagnostic Training Center.

Not a substantive word came out of him in the interim -- not to Tom Coughlin, or GM Jerry Reese, or co-owner John Mara; not even to the team's esteemed director of medical services, Ronnie Barnes. Aside from the training video his camp sent along as he rehabbed, the Giants never truly knew the extent of his injuries until he walked in Monday for a physical.

Yet, once he arose from his self-imposed entombment, the optimism that Pierre-Paul can help reverse that Week 7 encounter of last season into a fast start to this season Sunday night exploded like that Independence Day blast that left a mangled hand in its wake.

Even Coughlin fell victim to some wishful thinking. While maintaining Monday that he had no idea about JPP's condition, he coyly left open the possibility that his franchise defensive end would be out there -- contract willing -- against the Cowboys. The rumors in the media indicated Pierre-Paul could probably muddle his four-fingered appendage through with a cast.

That will probably be the case if and when JPP gets back to work. That may well come at an early juncture, far earlier than anyone has expected at this point.

Just don't expect it to happen Sunday.

And that's a shame because the Giants can certainly use him. A useful JPP would not solve every problem on that defense -- certainly there are almost too many to count -- but he would help immensely.

Especially in terms of turning the heat up on Romo. As the defense stands now, Pierre-Paul remains the Giants' best chance for a pass rush. Though young Damontre Moore showed potential and George Selvie showed veteran smarts, it won't take a honed eye to notice the difference between them and Pierre-Paul working over the left tackle. Consider, too, that the Cowboys have one of the better offensive lines in the league, and one can sense a lot of trouble awaiting up front.

Romo looked sharp and comfortable in the preseason, and he has all his receivers back from last season. That includes Bryant, who may well turn young safeties Landon Collins and Cooper Taylor into victims, and tight end Jason Witten, who has made a career of torturing Giants linebackers. Considering the state of that group right now, with Jon Beason hobbled and Devon Kennard still developing, it will be left for new addition J.T. Thomas to match athleticism with Witten.

It's quite likely Romo will throw even more than usual in light of the uncertainty surrounding the committee-style backfield that replaces the departed Murray.

Having Pierre-Paul out there to at least give consistent chase to the mobile Romo would help avert some of those throws before the routes develop.

But that's just a pipe dream. Whatever the Giants' defense does Sunday, it will probably have to do it without the once and future star.

Don't mistake his mere physical presence with his readiness to play.